Traffic marker



July 10, 1934. G. c. WEBSTER TRAFFI C MARKER Filed Aug. 29, 1931 gf@ ATTORNEY? Patented July 10, 1934 TRAFFIC MARKER Glenn C. Webster, Geneva, Ohio, assignor to Geneva Metal Wheel Company, Geneva, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application August Z9, 1931, Serial No. 560,076

1 Claim.

The present invention relating as indicated to improvements in traffic markers, has more precise reference to that particular type of marker which is adapted to be attached to the surface of a pavement in order to delineate traffic lanes and to mark out definite areas, The general object and nature of my invention is to provide a novel and efcient means for attaching a traffic marker to the pavement surface. Great difiiculty has been experienced in the prior art in devising a pavement attachment means sufficiently capable of withstanding the vigorous conditions to which such trafc markers are subjected. In the customary installation of the trafic marker, it is found that essentially two different directional forces are exerted upon the head of the marker, namely, a vertical force from the weight of passing vehicles and a transverse horizontal force resultant from uni-directional trafiic flow. The two advantages to be sought, therefore, in the design of a traffic marker are rst, resistance to vertical forces and, second, resistance to horizontal forces exerted along the line of the pavement surface.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a process for efliciently and economically manufacturing the article embodying the principle of my invention. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail one method and one product exemplifying my invention, such di"- closed procedure and product constituting, however, but one of various applications of the principles of my invention.

In said annexed drawing:

Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive are transverse sectional views illustrating three alternative forms of traiiic markers constructed in conformity with the principle of my invention; Fig. 4 represents a traffic marker as illustrated in Fig. 2 when installed in a pavement surface; Fig. 5 represents the trafc marker illustrated in Fig. 3 as installed in a brick or concrete pavement; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the split pin before it is riveted into the head portion of the marker.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, my invention contemplates the provision of a surface or head portion l. This head portion 1 may take any desired form such as circular, oval or rectangular shapes, for example. In order to secure the head portion or marker 1 to a pavement, I provide the longitudinally split pin composed of the two halves 2 and 3. The upper ends of the pins 2 and 3 are permanently secured to the head portion 1 at the point 4 in any suitable manner such as riveting, welding, casting in or pressing. A non-corrosive metallic sheathing 5 such as stainless steel, Monel metal, or the like, is then positioned upon the exposed surface of the marker 1.

In the alternative form of construction shown in Fig. 2, the double pins 1l and 12 are hot riveted in the opening 13 of the head portion 1G so that there is formed a lower annular shoulder 15 immediately below the opening 13 in the head l0. The shoulder portion l5 serves to impart additional strength to the joint between the securing pins and the head, as well as to serve as a bearing point for the washer 16. Similar to the construction shown in Fig. l, a. sheathing 14 may be placed over the concavo-convex head portion 10.

In still another alternative form of construction, as shown in Fig. 3, I may provide a counter-sunk opening 30 in the head portion, and insert the split pins 31 and 32 therein, upsetting their upper ends 33 so that they form a substantially permanent joint. The non-corrosive metal sheathing 34 and 35 may also be positioned upon the head and the upper portion 33 of the double pin.

Directing attention to Fig. 4, when my double pin form of marker is applied to a pavement surface, the material of which is slightly plastic, as for example asphalt, it is merely necessary to drive the marker into the surface, in which case the lower ends of the pins 11 and 12 will tend to spread in a horizontal direction due to the angle shaped points 6 and 7 of the pins, thereby forming-an unusually strong retaining joint with the pavement material. As shown in Fig. 5, when the marker is installed in a brick or concrete pavement surface 18, a hole 19 is first drilled therein. A wedge 36 may then be placed lightly between the two retaining pins or inserted in the bottom of the hole which is lled with a plastic material, such as asphalt, and the marker driven into position as illustrated.

The greatest strain which is exerted upon the securing pin occurs along the line of the pavement surface, that is, at the immediate point where the pin joins the marker. That is the point at which the maximum shear and bending stresses will occur. In order to compensate for such a destructive shearing force, I have applied to my invention a well known theory of engineering mechanics as applied, for example, in the manufacture of leaf springs, and instead of making the member which is subjected to such forces of solid cross-section, have made it of divided or separated sections so that there will be imparted to the securingv action of the pins a slight resilient movement, suiicient to with stand the repeated shocks which might otherwise produce failure by fatigue in a member of solid cross-section. In other words, the pin is divided along its neutral axis in order that it can more readily absorb the alternate vertical forces imparted to the head of the marker and transmitted as bending stresses upon the vertical crosssection of the pin.

One method by which my` above described device may be manufactured consists in rst providing the simple form of longitudinally split pin composed of the two half round portions 37 and 38 as shown in Fig. 6. This pin may then be hot riveted into any of the forms of heads, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, whereby it is made substantially an integral part of theA head portion. Such a process is productive of an article which is exceedingly cheap to manufacture, may be easily and quickly installed, and possesses the advantages or" long life and durability.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the product and method herein disclosed, provided the step or steps stated by the following claim or the equivalent of such stated step or steps be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

A trafiic Amarker comprising the combination of a head portion, a` central opening in said head portion, and a downwardly extending shank portion extending through said opening7 said shank portion consisting of two individual and separate halves, the upper portions of said halves being upset at points adjacent the top and bottom sides of said head portion 4to permanently secure said shank portion to said head.

GLENN C. WEBSTER. 

